Context: I’ve been struggling badly since a new drug was added to my cocktail a week or so ago. Amongst other side-effects, it made me unable to concentrate, or to pray, and therefore, unable to write. Worst of all, it made me feel that life was no longer worth living.
However, yesterday, with medical help, I reduced the quantity of this drug by 50%, and today, to my great joy, I found I could both pray, receive inspiration and write again.
Tomorrow I hope to post what I was given this morning, but for now, here is an astonishingly appropriate piece I chose and prepared last night, with no idea that my state of mind might be about to change.
This prayer arrived very early one morning some weeks ago, when I woke at dawn and couldn’t go back to sleep. The photo is the view from my bedroom window that day:
My God turns my darkness into light (Psalm 18:28; NIV).
You turn my darkness into light,
My sickness, into health;
My weakness into strength, Lord,
And my poverty, to wealth.
You turn my mourning into joy,
My sighing, into prayer;
My loneliness, to oneness, Lord,
My selfishness, to care.
You turn my water into wine,
My sinfulness, to good;
My anger, into peace, Lord,
And my bitterness to love.
You turn my losses into gains,
My dross, to precious ore;
My death, Lord, to eternal life
With you, for evermore.
In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28; NIV).
References
I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life (John 5:24; NLT).
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! (Psalm 30:11-12; NLT).